Could water reforms reduce red alert beaches?

With water sports a major attraction at the moment, the ongoing problem of polluted water after heavy rain is causing even more concern than usual.

On two occasions recently, most Hibiscus Coast beaches were rendered unsafe for swimming, according to the Safeswim website, for several days. Whangaparāoa residents reported seeing human waste and toilet paper flow past in open drains.

Although there are several reasons for the high pathogen level in the sea after rain, the finger was quickly pointed at the Coast’s ageing infrastructure. Stormwater gets into the wastewater pipes through gaps – a problem made worse when those pipes are old and leaky, or not fit for purpose. The wastewater then overflows back into the stormwater and out to sea.

Housing development exacerbates the issue, leading to more hard surfaces that increase the volume and speed of runoff.

Government says that a key benefit of its 3 Waters reforms, which amalgamate stormwater, wastewater and drinking water into new entities nationwide, (see box) will be greater investment in infrastructure, including “the ability to address contamination of urban streams through sewer overflows, unauthorised discharges and stormwater runoff”.

Hibiscus & Bays Local Board member Janet Fitzgerald says there are regular spills from a nearby drain into her Whangaparāoa property. She says infrastructure and maintenance is not keeping pace with growth. 

“The major upgrade at the Army Bay treatment plant is not much good if the old pipes aren’t sufficient.” she says.

Safeswim programme manager, Nick Vigar, agrees that more investment in infrastructure would help.

Vigar points out that you can never eliminate all overflow issues. Rain takes things like bird and dog poo with it, which can be enough to cause a Safeswim red alert. Illegal private connections are also a contributing factor, he says.

However, more could be done to minimise the public health risk. His personal take on the 3 Waters is that more stringent controls and massive investment could be the path to fixing those issues.

Meanwhile, Watercare has upgrades in the pipeline. A spokesperson says the organisation planned to spend about $300m on wastewater network projects for the Hibiscus Coast in the next 10 years, including upgrades to pump stations and rising mains, to cater for growth and renew assets. A further $68m has been allocated for wastewater treatment projects at the Army Bay plant.

But Watercare’s time is almost up – it is two years away from being taken over by the reforms.

The success, or failure, of those reforms will be clear to see – not least in our ability to swim after heavy rain.

3 Waters coming on stream

• Government is moving forward rapidly with its plan to take control of the country’s stormwater, wastewater and drinking water, despite opposition from most Councils (including both local Councillors). • The Water Services Bill will be introduced to parliament early next month. Public consultation will take place nationally, through the select committee process. • A national transition unit will be established and early next year will begin engagement with local authorities and iwi. • In Auckland, Watercare will be replaced, in 2023, by a new entity that combines the city’s water services with those of the Far North, Whangarei and Kaipara District Councils. • During the transition, charges for household water should remain similar to existing arrangements. Government says cost benefits for consumers will flow from the new entity, but opponents dispute this. • The process has turned water into a political football. If a National-led government is elected, it has said it will repeal the 3 Waters and return assets to local control.